In a surprising twist of events, Pakistani spinner Usman Tariq has seemingly taken a jab at Australian all-rounder Cameron Green via social media following a controversial incident during the second T20 match in Lahore. This encounter has sparked intense discussions within the cricket community, particularly over allegations of an illegal bowling action.
On Saturday night, Pakistan triumphed over Australia with a resounding 90-run victory at the Gaddafi Stadium. The Australian team was bowled out for a mere 108 runs in just 15.4 overs, marking their most significant T20I defeat in two decades. With this win, Pakistan achieved an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, setting the stage for a tense finale.
The drama unfolded during the 11th over when Green misplayed a wide ball from Tariq, resulting in his dismissal for 35 runs, leaving Australia struggling at 6-76. After returning to the dugout, Green mimicked a throwing motion reminiscent of baseball, hinting at his belief that Tariq might be "chucking"—a term used to suggest illegal bowling.
Tariq, playing only his third T20 international match, had impressive bowling figures of 2 wickets for 16 runs across 2.4 overs, even managing to dismiss tailender Matthew Kuhnemann. Despite the accusations and controversy, there has been no formal complaint from the Australian team or umpires regarding the legality of Tariq's bowling action.
The day after the match, Tariq appeared to mock Green by posting a clip of a crying child on Instagram, captioning it "After getting out," accompanied by a laughing emoji, which undoubtedly stirred more conversation around the incident.
Tariq’s bowling style is certainly unconventional; he pauses significantly before delivering the ball and uses a slinging action that results in a noticeable bend in his arm. Since making his professional debut in 2023, he has participated in various T20 leagues worldwide, including the Caribbean Premier League and the ILT20 in the UAE, and has taken eight T20I wickets at an outstanding average of 7.50 with a remarkable economy rate of 5.62.
According to ICC regulations, a bowling action is considered illegal if the bowler's elbow extends beyond 15 degrees during the delivery stride, which begins when the bowling arm reaches a horizontal position and ends when the ball is released. Importantly, any natural hyperextension of the elbow does not count against this measurement.
Tariq has faced scrutiny regarding his bowling action in the past; he was reported twice while playing for the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. In both instances, umpires raised concerns, but after undergoing biomechanical testing at Lahore's National Cricket Academy, he was cleared to continue bowling, confirming that his action was legal.
Last year, Tariq addressed the rumors surrounding his bowling action, stating that the bend in his arm is due to a physical condition—specifically, a double-jointed elbow. He expressed frustration over ongoing allegations of chucking, saying, "I do have two elbows in my arm. My arm bends naturally. I have got this tested and cleared. Everyone feels I bend my arms and all that. My bent arm is a biological issue."
Despite being cleared by experts, accusations against Tariq continued, especially after his standout performance against South Africa last November, where he helped secure a four-wicket victory. Later, he was named player of the match against Zimbabwe, recording his best figures of 4-18, including a hat-trick.
During a recent interview, Tariq defended his bowling against critics, particularly focusing on the lack of understanding some fans have about cricket mechanics. He stated, "There are two corners on my (elbow) which makes it hard for me to straighten. That makes confusion for the spectators. I have given two tests at labs in Pakistan. My action was cleared.
"I would love to give a message on this platform that every single person who is commenting on these things should study first about cricket, then they should go for the allegations. Illiteracy can kill knowledge. It is better to have knowledge before commenting on anyone."
Interestingly, Tariq is not the only Pakistani cricketer to face accusations from Australians. Fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain was similarly mocked by Australian players for his bowling action during a Big Bash League match and again in a Hundred competition. In February 2022, Hasnain was banned from bowling after biomechanical testing confirmed his action was illegal, requiring him to undergo corrective training.
On the flip side, Australian spinner Kuhnemann found himself in a similar predicament when he was cited for a suspect bowling action during a Test tour in Sri Lanka but was later exonerated after a thorough independent assessment. Additionally, in 2020, Cricket Australia imposed a 90-day ban on Sydney Thunder all-rounder Chris Green due to an illegal bowling action after umpires raised concerns in the BBL.
As the cricket world watches closely, the final T20 match between Pakistan and Australia is scheduled to take place at the same venue on Sunday at 10 PM AEDT. What are your thoughts on the accusations surrounding bowlers' actions? Do you believe that the scrutiny is justified, or is it often based on misunderstandings? Share your insights in the comments!
